WESTERN MICHIGAN (4-3, 2-1 MAC)
at EASTERN MICHIGAN (2-4, 0-2 MAC)
Rynearson Stadium (30,200) • Ypsilanti, Mich.
2 PM ET • ESPN3 • 96.5 FM
All-Time Series: 32-18-2; has won three in a row


ESPN3 TALENT:
Dan Gutowsky - Play-by-Play
Marcus Ray - Analyst

COACHING FACTS
WMU Head Coach: Tim Lester (Western Michigan, 2000)
Record at WMU: 4-3, 2-1 MAC (1st Season)
Overall record: 44-26 (7th season)

Head Coach: Chris Creighton
Record at EMU: 12-31, 5-21 MAC (4th Season)  
Overall record: 151-77 (21st Season)

BRONCO OVERVIEW
Western Michigan went 2-2 in non-conference play with its two losses at #4 USC and Michigan State and began MAC play with a 2-0 record. The Broncos totaled 126 points over their first two conference games (most over a two-game span in FBS this season), defeating Ball State 55-3 and winning a wild 7-overtime game at Buffalo 71-68. The Broncos fell to Akron on Sunday, Oct. 15, 14-13, for WMU's first MAC loss since Nov. 18, 2015 (at NIU, 27-19), ending a 12-game winning streak against MAC opponents. It also snapped a nine-game home winning streak for the Broncos.

PHILLIPS EARNS MULTIPLE MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICA HONORS
Senior KR/PR Darius Phillips has been named a Midseason All-American by Sporting News and CBS Sports. Phillips, has two return touchdowns on kickoffs this year and has averaged 36.8 yards per return. He also averages 13.4 yards per punt return. Of the 26 members who make up the Sporting News midseason list, Phillips is the only player from a Group of 5 school, as the rest of the positions were filled out by the Power 5 and Notre Dame.

FRANKLIN NEARS CAREER RECORDS
Jarvion Franklin currently has 51 overall career touchdowns, two shy of breaking last year's No. 5 overall NFL draft pick Corey Davis' school record (52) for overall career TDs. Franklin has put together back-to-back 100-yard rushing yard games (18 career) and has become just the third Bronco to reach 4,000 career yards. Franklin has 4,177 career yards, 43 away from breaking Robert Sanford's school record of 4,219. Sanford was teammates with WMU head coach Tim Lester.

SUNDAY MACTION
WMU and Akron's game scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 14 was pushed to Sunday, Oct. 15. Lightning and heavy flooding caused the postponement. WMU pumped over 1 million gallons of water out of Waldo Stadium over the early morning hours Sunday. It was the first Sunday game played in the MAC since 2006.

LESTER AT THE REINS
Tim Lester is in his first season as head coach at WMU and is one of 21 FBS coaches leading their alma mater. Lester was an All-MAC quarterback for the Broncos, playing from 1996-99. He was the 1996 MAC Freshman of the Year and led WMU to the 1999 MAC Championship game. Lester threw for 11,299 yards and 87 career TDs. This will be his 71st game as a head coach, also coaching at the Division II and III levels. Lester was an assistant coach at Western Michigan from 2005-06 and most recently was the QB coach at Purdue during the 2016 season.

POSITIVE NUMBERS
WMU leads the MAC with a +5 turnover margin, which also ranks 31st in the nation. WMU ranks 13th in the nation in fumbles recovered with 7. The Broncos have the best rushing offense in the MAC (20th in the nation), averaging 237.9 yards per game and the second best scoring offense, averaging 38.6 ppg - which ranks 19th in the nation. The Broncos also rank second in the conference in pass efficiency (148.2).

MICHIGAN MAC TROPHY
The Michigan MAC Trophy between WMU, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan is given to the program which has the best series record between the three directional schools. In the event of a tie the Michigan MAC Trophy remains with the previous holder until one of the other rivals claims the title.

Each of the three schools have claimed the trophy four times. WMU won it in its inaugural year in 2005 and regained and retained possession of the trophy since 2014.

WMU: 2005, 2014, 2015, 2016
EMU: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012
CMU: 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013

AMONG NCAA LEADERS
WMU is among the nation's leaders in several statistical categories.
13th - Fumbles Recovered (7)
17th - Defensive TDs (2)
19th - Scoring Offense (42.8)
20th - Rushing Offense (237.8)
21st - Turnovers Gained (12)
26th - Completion Percentage (.644)
31st - Turnover Margin (.71)

SCOUTING EASTERN MICHIGAN
After winning their first two games of the season over Charlotte (24-7) and Rutgers (16-13), the Eagles have dropped their last four games, including two to open MAC play. EMU losses have come to Ohio (27-24), Kentucky (24-20), Toledo (20-15) and Army (28-27). Saturday will be Eastern Michigan's annual Homecoming game.

The Eagles rank second in the MAC in scoring defense and total defense, only allowing 19.8 per game and 339.0 yards per game. Offensively, the Eagles are the third best passing threat in the league, totaling 268.0 yards per game and rank last in rushing offense with only 84.3 yards per game on the ground.

Senior QB Brogan Roback has completed 137 of 223 pass attempts for 1,509 yards with nine touchdowns and seven interceptions. Senior WR Sergio Bailey has been the favorite target, pulling in 37 receptions for 518 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, the Eagles have eight takeaways with three fumble recoveries and five interceptions.